A review of devolution and the UK's creative, cultural, and heritage ecosystem

The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UKCultural Devolution
Written By Culture Commons

Discussion Paper

Author

Eliza Easton (Erskine Analysis), Trevor MacFarlane (Culture Commons) and Jack Shaw (Labour Together).

Description

This discussion paper examines the evolving relationship between the UK’s creative, cultural and heritage sectors and the process of devolution across all four nations. Drawing on detailed analysis of policy, funding and governance trends since the late 1990s, it explores how local authorities, combined authorities and devolved administrations have engaged with the creative economy, highlighting uneven investment, the effects of austerity, and the rising influence of regional mayors. The paper identifies key challenges and opportunities for embedding culture more deeply within devolved systems of governance and proposes ways the sector can better position itself to shape and benefit from future waves of devolution.

Published as part of The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK.

November 2024

Read the report
Culture Commons
Previous

Devolution: perspectives from the UK's Creative Industries
Next

The view from local governments in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on local cultural decision making